asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether, in view of the large number of unemployed, he will recruit all temporary labour required by his Department from the employment exchanges.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Temporary Labour for Post Office Work.
Temporary labour required in my Department is recruited through the employment exchanges. Subject to suitability, preference is given to recipients of unemployment benefit or assistance.
Is the Minister aware that a large proportion of those recruited for temporary labour are college students and does he not think it unfair to give such work to college students while men with large families are unemployed and cannot find work?
Lest it might be taken as a general course in my Department that college students are employed on temporary work, I should like to say that is not so. However, during rush periods, and particularly for specific types of work, especially at Christmas, it is true that some students have been employed and are likely to be employed in the future. However, all of them are registered at employment exchanges.
How many of them have families?